Inker unit for continuous-motion printer

ABSTRACT

A continuous-motion multicolor printing press is provided with quick-release means holding opposite ends of each rubber-coated distribution roll. The quick-release means includes means for adjusting biasing forces urging these rubber-coated distribution rolls against a vibrating steel ink distributing drum and is constructed in such a manner that there is no need to readjust the biasing means each time a distribution roll is remounted.

United States Patent [191 Skrypek et al.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 INKER UNIT FOR CONTINUOUS-MOTION PRINTER [75] Inventors: John P. Skrypek, Saddle Brook;

Edward J. Whelan, Hasbrouck Heights; Enn Sirvet, Washington Township, all of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation, New

York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 [2]] App]. No.: 343,453

[52] US. Cl. 101/349, 101/40 [51] Int. Cl B411 31/30 [58] Field of Search 101/348, 349, 350, 351,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,253 1/1899 Meyrueis 101/349 1,982,830 12/1934 Richter 2,014,095 '9/1935 Wood 101/349 2,703,050 3/1955 Faeber 101/348 2,751,843 6/1956 Faeber 101/349 2,763,207 9/1956 McWhorter.... 101/348 3,179,043 4/1965 Mellison 101/349 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,069,157 11/1959 Germany 101/348 1,906,056 ll/l969 Germany 101/349 598,492 2/1948 Great Britain 101/348 Primary ExaminerJ. Reed Fisher Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cynthia Berlow [57] ABSTRACT A continuous-motion multicolor printing press is provided with quick-release means holding opposite ends of each rubber-coated distribution roll. The quick release means includes means for adjusting biasing forces urging these rubber-coated distribution rolls against a vibrating steel ink distributing drum and is constructed in such a manner that there is no need to readjust the biasing means each time a distribution roll is remounted.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENI JAN 1 4 m3 SHEET 10F 5 PATENTEI] JAN 1 4l975 SHEET H UF 5 INKER UNIT FOR CONTINUOUS-MOTION PRINTER This invention relates to high-speed printing presses in general and more particularly relates to presses for printing impressions from a plurality of coordinated printing plates toproduce a multicolor illustration.

US. Pat. No. 3,223,028 issued Dec; 14, 1965, to W. E. Brigham for an Interchangeable Inking Unit for Multicolor Presses describes a continuous-motion printer for decorating cylindrical containers. The printing apparatus of the aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,223,028 is provided with replaceable inker units for each color present in the multicolor print output. Each inker unit includes an ink supply fountain, ductor means, a plurality of ink distributing rolls, a pair of form rolls which receives ink transferred from the fountain by the distributing rolls, and a plate cylinder carrying a printing plate to which ink is applied by the form rolls. The plate cylinders of all inker units engage the periphery of a common blanket roll and are spaced apart so that the different color images produced by the plate cylinders are superimposed to produce the desired multicolor composite image. The latter is transferred from the blanket cylinder to the cylindrical container being decorated.

The instant invention provides modifications of the printing apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,223,028 to achieve ease and reliability of operation and/or ease of manufacture. In particular, the instant invention provides quick-release means for each of the resilient-coated distribution rolls, whereby the latter may be readily removed when the press is shut down and may be readily replaced without requiring readjustment of biasing forces urging the distribution roll into engagement with a steel vibrating distributing drum.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel construction for a multicolor printing press.

Another object is to provide a multicolor printing press in which removal and installation of distribution rolls is facilitated by utilizing quick-release retainers.

Still another object is to provide quick-release retainers of this type which include adjustable stops to control spring biasing forces acting on the distribution roll.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will become more apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a continuous motion can decorator including a printing press section embodying features of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the inker units of the printing press section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the inker unit looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of a resilient distribution roll and its quick-release adjustable holders.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the quick-release holders of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the holder, looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the movable portion of the holder of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the movable portion, looking in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the stationary portion of the holder of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are end and plan views respectively of the stationary portion looking in the directions of the respective arrows 10l0 and ll1l of FIG. 9.

Now referring to the figures. The cylindrical container decorating apparatus of FIG. 1 is of a type described in our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 198,618, filed Nov. 15, 1971, for a Continuous Can Printer. Briefly, the apparatus of FIG. 1 includes in feed conveyor 15 which receives undecorated cans 16 from a supply (not shown) and places them on cradles 17 located at the periphery of cradle wheel 18 that is continuously rotated by being keyed to horizontal shaft 19. Horizontal spindles or mandrels 20 are also mounted to wheel 18, with each spindle 20 being in angular alignment with an individual cradle 17, but being axially dis placed therefrom. Undecorated cans 16 are transferred from cradle 17 to spindles 20, and while mounted to spindles 20 cans 16 are decorated by being brought into engagement with continuously rotating imagetransfer mat or blanket 21 of the multicolor printing press indicated generally by reference numeral 22. Thereafter, and while still mounted to spindles 20, decorated cans 16 have a protective film of varnish applied thereto by engagement with the periphery of applicator roll 23 in the overvarnish unit indicated generally by reference numeral 24.

Cans 16 with decorations and protective coatings thereon are transferred from spindles 2 0 to suction cups (not shown) mounted to transfer wheel 27 near the periphery thereof. The latter is continuously rotated about shaft 28 as a center. Cans 16 carried by transfer wheel 27 are then deposited on generally hori zontal pins 29 carried by chain-type output conveyor 30 which carries cans 16 through a curing oven (not shown).

Transfer blanket 21 is rotatably mounted on main frame portion 31 to press 22 and is engaged by the printing plates on the four circumferentially spaced plate rolls or cylinders 32, each of which is part of an individual identical inker unit, indicated generally by reference numeral 35. Each inker unit 35 is removably secured to main frame 31 by a strap 36 (FIG. 2) in clamping engagement with an outboard extension of stiffening member 37 at the bottom of inker unit 35. Member 37- is transverse to vertical frame plates 41, 42, 43 that are maintained in operative spaced relationship by additional transverse upper transverse stiffening members 38, 39. Member 38 extends between plates 42, 43, and member 39 extends between plates 41, 42.

Rotatably mounted in the space between plates 41, 42 is a pair of rubber form rolls 44, 45 engaged with plate cylinder 32 and axially vibrated steel roll 46. The latter is engaged by rubber-covered distribution roll 47 engaged with axially vibrated steel distributing drum or roll 51 that is also engaged by two additional rubbercoated distribution rolls 48, 49. Distribution roll 48 also engages steel roll 52 that is engaged with rubber ductor roll 53. The latter is also engaged with steel fountain roll 54 that combined with trough 55 and its scraper tip 56 to form the boundaries for ink pool 57.

Rolls 46, 51, 52, and 54 are positively driven through gear elements engaged with those gear elements in gear box 200 (FIG. 3) that are keyed to shaft 58 for plate roll 32. Gear 59, keyed to shaft 58, is in operative engagement with main drive gear 201 for blanket 21. Shaft 58 as well as shafts 146, 151, 152, and 154 for the respective rolls 46, 51, 52, and 54 extends through frame plates 42 and 43, and gear 59 is disposed between plates 42 and 43.

Since distribution rolls 47, 48, and 49 are of identical construction and their mountings are of identical constructions, only the construction and mounting of distribution roll 49 will be described by reference to FIGS. 4-11. In particular, distribution roll 49 includes steel drum 61 having cylindrical rubber jacket 62. Bearing assemblies 63 at opposite ends of drum 61 rotatably mount distribution roll 49 to shaft 64 that extends through drum 61 along the cylindrical axis thereof. Shaft 64 includes end portions 65 that are partly fiattened and extend beyond opposite ends of roll 49 to be engaged and held by quick-release retainer assemblies 66, 67 secured to the respective frame plates 41, 42 by screws 68. The constructions of assemblies 66, 67 are essentially the same, the only differences being necessitated by the fact that one is left-handed and the other is right-handed. Thus, only assembly 66 will be deend 95 of screw 93 is disposed at guideway entrance 83 in engagement with an arcuate portion of shaft end portion 65."Under these conditions, spring 74 is positioned with its line of action abovepivot pin 73, thereby urging movable'assembly 7 1 in a counterclockwise'direction and transmitting the spring force through member 88 and screw 93 toshaft end portion 65 urging the latter more deeply into guideway 84, thereby biasing distribution roll 49 against the outer surface of steel drum 51. The biasing force exerted by spring 74 on roll 49 is adjusted by rotating screw 93. For this purpose the latter is provided with a screwdriver-receiving slot 98 at the rear thereof.

When inker unit 35 is not going to be used for an extended period of time, say overnight, distribution roll 49 is removed and placed on a storage rack, so that rubber coating 62 will not develop a flat spot. Quick removal of roll 49 is accomplished by manually pivoting movable section 71 clockwise with respect to FIG. 6. Once the line of action of spring 74 moves below pivot pin 73, spring 74 takes over and continues clockwise movement of movable section 71 until projection 96 engages block 76. In this position of movable section 71, the latter no longer blocks wideway entrance 83, so that shaft end portion 65 is now free to slide along guideway 84 to the right with respect to FIG. 6 and be removed through entrance 83 thereof. When distribuceive screws 68 to fixedly secure assembly 66 to frame member 41, with block surface 77 abutting the surface of frame plate 41 that faces frame plate 42. Block 76 is provided with a bifurcated section having arms 78, 79 with aligned apertures 81 that receive pivot pin 73. The latter mounts movable section 71 between arms 78, 79. Slot-like guideway 84 extends from block surface 82 part way toward surface 77 and is provided with an entrance 83 at the end of guideway 84 adjacent bifurcated sections 78, 79.

Recess 85 in surface 77 provides a clearance space for spring 74, one end of which is mounted to post 86 secured to block 76 and extending into recess 85. The other end of spring 74 is mounted to post 87 that extends from slab-like member 88 of movable assembly 71. Retainer member 88 is provided with transverse clearance aperture 89 through which pivot pin 73 extends, and recess 91 from which handle 92 projects.

Movable assembly 71 further includes an adjustable stop in the form of screw 93 received by threaded aperture 94 that extends through member 88 between the front and rear edges thereof. The length of adjusting screw 93 is such that both ends thereof project beyond the ends of threaded aperture 94, with front end 95 of adjusting screw 93 being aligned with entrance 83 to guideway 84 when movable assembly 71 is in its holding position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. By utilizing handle 92, movable assembly 71 may be pivoted in a clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 6, about pivot pin 73 as a center, from the holding position to a releasing position shown in phantom in FIG. 6. In this latter position element 96, projecting from the bottom edge of member 88, engages block 76 to limit pivotal move- .ment of assembly 71.

During operation of inker unit flattened end portion 65 of shaft 64 is disposed within guideway 84, but is spaced from closed end 97 thereof because of the relative diameters of rolls 49 and 51. At this time, forward tion roll 49 is remounted to quick-release retainer assemblies 66, 67 by having each shaft end portion 65 entered into guideway 84 through entrances 83 thereof, it is merely necessary to manually operate movable section 71 until the line of action of spring 74 moves above pivot pin 73, at which time the force exerted by spring 74 operates movable section 71 counterclockwise to its holding position.

It is noted that in mounting and dismounting of distribution roll 49 the biasing force adjustment for spring 74 previously set by the position of screw 93 is not disturbed, so that it is unnecessary to readjust the biasing force acting on distribution roll 49 each time the latter is remounted. Repositioning of adjusting screw 93 becomes necessary only when wear of distribution roll 49 becomes evident or, for some other reason, the biasing force exerted by spring 74 on distribution roll 49 increases below an acceptable point. ,3

Although in the foregoing preferred embodiments have been discussed, many variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore understood that this invention is not limited by the disclosure but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

l. Ink distributing means for a decorating press including first and second rolls normally rotatable on respective parallel laterally offset first and second axes with the peripheries of said rolls in engagement, first means including portions defining relatively stationary guideways for directing said first roll toward said second roll, first and second axial extensions for said first roll projecting beyond the respective ends thereof and supported by the respective first and second guideways after being entered therein through entrances thereof, first and second retainers operatively associated with said first and second guideways, respectively, to retain the respective first and second extensions in said guideways, second means to bias said extensions along said guideways whereby said first roll is urged into engagement with said second roll, each of said first and second retainers being operable between a holding and a releasing position, each of said first and second retainers when in its said holding position blocking the entrance of its associated guideway to interfere with removal of said extensions from said guideways, each of said first and second retainers when in its said releasing position clearing the entrance of its associated guideway to permit removal of said extensions from said guideways through the entrances thereof, said second means being connected to the first means and acting through the first and second retainers when the latter are in said holding position to urge said extensions away from said entrances and deeply into said guideways, said second means having a line of action that is repositioned as the first and second retainers are operated to said holding and releasing positions to maintain said first and second retainers in the holding or releasing position to which the first and second retainers have been operated, first and second pivots mounting the respective first and second retainers to the first means, said line of action moving overcenter to opposite sides of said pivots as said first and second retainers are operated to the re spective holding and releasing positions, first and second adjustable stops for controlling the magnitude of biasing forces exerted by said fourth means on said first roll, said first and second stops being mounted to the respective first and second retainers and operativcly engaging the respective first and second extensions when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions whereby adjustment of said stops is effective to control spacings between said extensions and said first and second retainers thereby controlling positions of the latter and by so doing serving to adjust loading of said first means.

2. Ink distributing means as set forth in claim 1 in which the stops are accessible for adjustment when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions.

3. Ink distributing means as set forth in claim 2 in which the stops are positioned to extend into the guideways when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions.

4. lnk distributing means as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the first and second retainers is manually and individually operable between its holding and releasing positions, and the first roll includes a resilient cylindrical coating.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,859,919 DATED Jan. 14, 1975 'NVENTOR(5 3 John P. Skrype k, Edward J. Whelan 8; Enn Sirvet It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 3 change "fourth" to -second- Column 6, line 12 change "first" to -second- Signed and Sealed this Twenty-fourth D y of February 198] [SEA L] .4 nest:

RENE D. TEGTMEYER Arresting Ofiicer Acting Commissioner ofPatems and Trademarks 

1. Ink distributing means for a decorating press including first and second rolls normally rotatable on respective parallel laterally offset first and second axes with the peripheries of said rolls in engagement, first means including portions defining relatively stationary guideways for directing said first roll toward said second roll, first and second axial extensions for said first roll projecting beyond the respective ends thereof and supported by the respective first and second guideways after being entered therein through entrances thereof, first and second retainers operatively associated with said first and second guideways, respectively, to retain the respective first and second extensions in said guideways, second means to bias said extensions along said guideways whereby said first roll is urged into engagement with said second roll, each of said first and second retainers being operable between a holding and a releasing position, each of said first and second retainers when in its said holding position blocking the entrance of its associated guideway to interfere with removal of said extensions from said guideways, each of said first and second retainers when in its said releasing position clearing the entrance of its associated guideway to permit removal of said extensions from said guideways through the entrances thereof, said second means being connected to the first means and acting through the first and second retainers when the latter are in said holding position to urge said extensions away from said entrances and deeply into said guideways, said second means having a line of action that is repositioned as the first and Second retainers are operated to said holding and releasing positions to maintain said first and second retainers in the holding or releasing position to which the first and second retainers have been operated, first and second pivots mounting the respective first and second retainers to the first means, said line of action moving overcenter to opposite sides of said pivots as said first and second retainers are operated to the respective holding and releasing positions, first and second adjustable stops for controlling the magnitude of biasing forces exerted by said fourth means on said first roll, said first and second stops being mounted to the respective first and second retainers and operatively engaging the respective first and second extensions when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions whereby adjustment of said stops is effective to control spacings between said extensions and said first and second retainers thereby controlling positions of the latter and by so doing serving to adjust loading of said first means.
 2. Ink distributing means as set forth in claim 1 in which the stops are accessible for adjustment when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions.
 3. Ink distributing means as set forth in claim 2 in which the stops are positioned to extend into the guideways when the first and second retainers are in their holding positions.
 4. Ink distributing means as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the first and second retainers is manually and individually operable between its holding and releasing positions, and the first roll includes a resilient cylindrical coating. 